Bathing-suit



(No Model.)

J. W. D. DAVIS.

BATHING SUIT;

Patented Mar. 29; 1898.

l/l/VEA/TOH Jasa WZ- ATTORNEYS.

' UNITE STATES ATENT rricn.

JESSE WJD. DAVIS, OF LAMPASAS, TEXAS.

BATHlNG-SUIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,556, dated March29, 1898. Application filed February 13,18 7. Serial No. 623,222- No m dls To a whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, J ESSE W. D. DAVIS, of Lampasas, in the county ofLampasas and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Bathing-Suits, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in bathing-suits, and has for an objectto provide a simple inexpensive bathing-suit which will effectuallyprevent exposure of the person, can be easily and quickly dried,will notcling to the bather, and may be easily cleaned.

The invention consists in certain novel constructions, combinations, andarrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed outin the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a bathing-suit constructedaccording to my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section ofthe skirt portion. Fig. 3 is a View of the outer or bottom side of theveil. Fig. t is a view of the top of said veil. Fig. 5 is a detail viewof the detachable border, and Fig. 6 is a detail view of the waistbandportion of the skirt.

The suit has a body, basque, or blouse A and a skirt l3, buttoned orotherwise suitably connected, and is made of practically waterproofmaterial, preferably cloth, having an outer face of rubber or otherwaterproof material, either of corrugated orsmooth surface, and havingopenings 0, covered by shields D, in the form of caps secured by cementor otherwise above the holesC, extending down over the same and open atthe bottom, permitting the free ingress and egress of water from theinterior of the suit. Light rubber straps E are cemented to the insideof the suit and operate to hold the corrugations in shape.

In the lower part of the skirt I fit the transverse diaphragm-like pieceF, which for convenience of reference I term the veil, and which, likethe rest of the skirt, is preferably of rubber and is detachably securedto the skirt by flexible cords and buttons, as shown. This veil has atits edges short straps, preferably of elastic, buttoned to the skirt ator near the lower edge thereof. This veil F is provided with openings Gfor the legs,which openings may preferably be arranged slightly inadvance of the center. Short trouser portions H in the nature ofbloomer-shaped pantalets depend from the veil surrounding the openings Gand are provided at their lower ends with buckles h or other suitablefastenings by which they may be fastened a little below the knee of thewearer. At their juncture with the veil these pantalets extend from nearthe center of the veil nearly to the edge of veil, as best shown in Fig.5.

Straps I, preferably of elastic material, are secured to the middle ofthe veil and tend to support the same. Ihese supporting-straps inoperation pass up and are attached at each side of the waist. Acorrugated rubber ruffi'e 'J extends around and is secured to the innerside of the skirt at the bottom thereof. I also provide corrugatedruffles J on the veil extending around the pantalets close to the edgeof the veil. These ruffles and veil operate'to give the appearance of amultiplicity of skirts, so that a woman lying on her body in the waterwill be protected and have the appearance of wearing many underskirts.

A border K, made of plain rubber cloth of any width to suit the wearer,may be provided and attached to the bottom of the skirt by buttons orthe like, so it. can be used or not, as

desired, and borders of different Widths may be supplied, so persons ofdifferent heights may be properly fitted.

In operation the water will pass under the shields D through theopenings and will thoroughly wash the body, the veil and rufflespreventing any exposure of the person. The corrugated rubber facing willhold the suit in shape and prevent-any clinging to the person. The veilbeing supported by the straps or cords I does not interfere with themovements of the bather and avoids the dragging of the skirt by thelimbs, the suit holding and maintaining its shape While the wearer ismoving.

The holes on waist or bust running with the corrugations provide aninlet for water that will not close up from pressure ofwaves and thebust will have a corset-shape, making a neat-fitting garment. I supplythe waist with aflap a (see dotted lines, Fig. 1) to protectthe personfrom exposure if a front button is unfastened.

The garment may be finished and ornamented to conform with any change offashion and such finish and ornamentation may be carried out in rubberdress material. The suit does not require to be washed or laundered, butmaybe cleaned by simply rinsing it off when it will dry in a fewminutes.

The improvement may be carried out in bathing-suits for men.

The skirt is formed at the top with a front flap L, buttoned at itsedges at L, and with an inner belt-strap L This belt-strap L is securedat L to the skirt and has buttons or other suitable fastenings L at itsfree end.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A bathing-suit comprising a skirt, a transverse diaphragm in thelower part of said skirt provided with openings for the legsof thewearer, and supporting-straps secured at one end to the middle of thediaphragm whereby they may operate to draw the diaphragm into conicalform, and connected at their upper ends with the Waistband of the skirtsubstantially as shown and described.

2. A bathing-suit comprising a skirt of waterproof material havingopenings for the ingress of water, the diaphragm in the lower end ofsaid skirt secured thereto at intervals and having openings between itand the skirt for the egress of water, and the straps connecting saiddiaphragm with the upper portion of the skirt and holding the diaphragmin conical form whereby Water may pass freely therefrom to the outletsbetween it and the skirt substantially as shown and described.

JESSE W. D. DAVIS.

Witnesses: G. H. RIBBLE, W. B. ABNEY.

